Question:
I'm trying to figure out if I have caught a cold sore from
someone. Last week I exchanged a light peck with someone who it turns
out had a developing cold sore in the corner of their lip. About 48
hours later I started to feel a tingling sensation in the corner of my
lip, similar to the descriptions I've read of prodromes. This
sensation has lasted for about 7-8 days now, and the corner of my lip
is a bit more irritated than it would normally be, but has not
developed a distinct raised bump or blister. Does this
ever happen with cold sores, that they "knock on the door" for an
elongated period before disappearing? (or appearing?)
The tingle is distinct, and I don't recall feeling anything like it
before. The only other explanation I can think of would be the cold
weather that started at right about the same.
My lip never touched their lip in the corner. Is the virus only
contagious from contact with the area of the sore itself, or
are the entire lips considered a 'hot zone'?
A friend offered me some zovirax ointment, but I don't know whether I
should use it since I don't know for sure if I have a cold sore in the making.
Answer:
What you have could be a number of things. The tingling sensation is well
known
to come before an herpes outbreak, but I assume other things can cause this
sensation, too. You could go to a doctor to have it examined, but that's
not really nescessary. Just wait and see what happens. I'd say it's little
chance it's
herpes, if you don't have any visible blisters. You'll find out over time
